Carter Hart signs pro tryout with Vegas Golden Knights

Goaltender Carter Hart has joined the Vegas Golden Knights organization and will begin his comeback on a professional tryout agreement, the team announced Thursday, marking the first NHL signing among five former members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team who were acquitted in a sexual assault trial in July. Hart, 27, has not appeared in a game since January 2024 and will be permitted to practice with the club immediately; he can play in American Hockey League games beginning Nov. 15 and is eligible for NHL game action as of Dec. 1 under the terms set by the league.

The move follows an NHL and NHL Players’ Association reinstatement process that cleared Hart to sign a contract starting Oct. 15 after a trial in London, Ontario, in which a judge found prosecutors had not met the burden of proof. The league said it evaluated its own investigation and the court’s conclusions in setting the timeline, noting the players had been away from the game for roughly 20 months. In a team statement, the Golden Knights said they were aligned with the NHL and NHLPA decision and "remain committed to the core values that have defined our organization."

Hart spent six seasons with the Philadelphia...